Hurricanes Take Game One Against North Carolina, 17-7
April 15, 2005
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Miami freshman designated hitter Alex Garabedian drove in a career-high five runs and Danny Figueroa went 3 for 5 to lead the no. 6 Hurricanes (28-9, 12-4 Atlantic Coast Conference to a 17-7 win against no. 7 North Carolina (28-7, 11-3 ACC) at Boshamer Field Friday afternoon.
The projected pitcher’s duel between Miami’s Cesar Carrillo and North Carolina’s Andrew Miller turned into an offensive outburst complemented by defensive miscues. The two teams combined for 19 hits, 16 walks and seven errors. Miami scored 10 runs on only five hits in the first three innings.
Carrillo recovered from a shaky first inning to improve his record to 9-0 this season and 21-0 all-time, tying him with Ken Smith (West Virginia, 1986-87) and Tony Arnold (Texas, 1979, ’81) for sixth on the NCAA consecutive decisions won list. The junior threw six innings, gave up seven hits, five runs (four earned) and struck out one with a season-high three walks. Freshman Manny Miguelez picked up his first career save, pitching three innings of relief and striking out four.
Miller(7-1) was charged with his first loss of the season and gave up nine runs (seven earned) on three hits and eight walks in 2.1 innings of work.
Miami jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI groundout by Jon Jay to score Danny Figueroa and a passed ball that scored Paco Figueroa.
UNC answered with three runs in its half of the first. Greg Mangum led off with a single and advanced to second after Carrillo hit Justin Webb. Matt Ellington followed with a two-run double off the center field wall for a 3-2 lead.
Freshman designated hitter Alex Garabedian put the game back in Miami’s favor with a one-out, three-run home run in the second for a 5-3 lead. Danny Figueroa scored on an error to increase the lead to 6-3.
Miami pulled away in the third with four runs. Roger Tomas tripled to score Walter Diaz and Danny and Paco Figueroa hit consecutive RBI doubles for a 9-3 lead. Ryan Braun brought in Paco Figueroa with a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring in the inning.
The Tar Heels gained some ground in the fifth on an RBI double from and Chad Flack and run-scoring single by Jay Cox.
UM put seven runs on the board in the sixth to put the game out of reach. Jay, Danny Valencia, Walter Diaz, Garabedian (two), Eddy Rodriguez and Braun all had RBIs in the inning for a 17-5 lead. UNC’s Seth Williams hit a two-run homer in the seventh off Miguelez to complete the game’s scoring.
The Hurricanes and Tar Heels resume the series Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2
Notes: UNC basketball player Raymond Felton threw out the game’s first pitch… It was the most runs scored against North Carolina since a 19-5 loss to Georgia Tech on May 12, 2001… Carrillo’s three walks were a season high… Miami is now 30-0 all-time when Carrillo pitches… Garabedian started in place of Brendan Katin, who was injured in practice on Thursday night.
